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Petit-Canal

Tourism, holidays & weekends guide in the Guadeloupe

Petit-Canal - Tourism, holidays & weekends guide in the Guadeloupe
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An important historical site of Guadeloupe, the town of Petit-Canal, located on the west coast of Grande-Terre between Port Louis and Morne-à-l'Eau, has several memorials related to Guadeloupe's painful slave-trading past. Once an important centre of sugar cultivation, this quiet town, which owes its name to a small canal dug in the 18th century for anchoring boats, is now geared towards tourism, offering amongst other things tours of the mangrove swamp and Grand Cul-de-Sac Marin lagoon.

There are a number of heritage sites to be discovered in Petit-Canal, starting with the Slave Markets, below the Church of St Philip and St James. Legend has it that this monumental flight of steps was used by slaves who had just disembarked from the ships. In reality, it was built after the abolition of slavery in 1848 to facilitate the transport of goods to the heights of the town. These markets now have plaques commemorating the names of the tribes who were deported and landed there. Approaching the steps, the eternal flame monument to the unknown slave also reminds visitors of the sad past of the island. Alongside it, a bust of Louis Delgrès honours the historical figure known for his anti-slavery proclamation of 1802.

Not far from there is a pleasant landscaped park that's ideal for a walk, with no fewer than 500 local plant species! A peaceful haven where you can admire a garden of medicinal plants, a dry forest, a Creole garden and a garden of the Indies, before continuing your tour of Petit-Canal with a trip to the Museum of Yesteryear (Musée de la Vie d'Antan), about daily life in Guadeloupe from Amerindian times to the 60s.

Additional information
Petit-Canal

Petit-Canal is a French commune located on the island of Guadeloupe. It covers over 70 km² in the north of Grande-Terre, the eastern coast of the Atlantic in the west coast of the Caribbean Sea. It takes place not far from Pointe-à-Pitre.

This town of over 8000 inhabitants is named small channels dug in the seventeenth century. Originally Petit-Canal mancenillier had been baptized, the name of a tree with poisonous fruit that, according to legend, poisoned several sailors of Christopher Columbus during colonization.

Full of charm, this city of Guadeloupe seduced by its historical heritage, of course, but also for its scenery and tropical climate. Access to the sea from both sides of the island is also popular with casual visitors.

Things to see and do

Petit-Canal is best known to house several monuments and other buildings built by Ali Tur, in the 1930s, as the town hall, schools or the church tower.

Staircase of 49 stone steps, Marche Slave is a center of the city. He led the descent of boats to the church which hosted the sale of newly arrived slaves. Nearby, one can discover the Trunk souls containing whips made by teachers in the abolition of slavery.

In the city center, home of the Environment is dedicated to the heritage of the town of Petit-Canal. It offers excursions including a tour in the mangroves, and several other historical sites surrounding the islet as Makou or the Pointe Sable Beach.

Duval The site is a place rich in history of the sugar past Petit-Canal. In particular housed a sugar factory. Not far away, in the home moody, one can also see the ruins of a housing to accommodate workers from the neighboring English-speaking islands. Today, the place houses the Business Incubator of the town, as well as various events.

Become small fishing port, the old wharf for the arrival of new slaves is always visible.

Places of interest

Leisure centres

Events and festivities

The main festival is held on May 2 with several very festive events.

In May, the festival focuses on Eritaj living memories, offering concerts, conferences and other events around the memory.

Visits, leisure and activities nearby

Bed & breakfasts

Vacation rentals

Hotels

Your holidays
A hotel
A vacation rental
A bed & breakfast
A campsite
A leisure activity
A restaurant
A rental car
A plane ticket
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